Salvia plant named &#39;Fire Dancer&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  plant of unknown parentage is provided that was discovered in a nursery setting while growing among other  Salvia  plants. Over a long blooming season attractive blossoms are formed that are coral in coloration. The growth habit is bushy and compact. The foliage is large and bright green in coloration. Following pruning, the plant displays a tendency to vigorously regrow. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Salvia hybrida/Salvia Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Fire Dancer

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar of the present invention was discovered during August or September, 2004, while growing in a plant nursery setting among other Salvia plants at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A. The new cultivar is of unknown parentage and likely includes Salvia greggii in its ancestry. The new plant was distinguished from other Salvia plants growing in the nursery where it was discovered primarily through a study of its distinctive blossom coloration combined with other attractive botanical characteristics identified hereafter. Had the single plant of the present invention not been discovered and carefully preserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

The plant is a perennial that can be grown to advantage without protection in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.

It was found that the new Salvia cultivar possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a bushy and compact growth habit,     -   (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive         blossoms that are coral in coloration,     -   (c) displays vigorous large bright green foliage,     -   (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning,         and     -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguished from other Salvia cultivars, such as the Salvia greggii ‘Ultra Violet’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States), upon an inspection of the blossoms. The ‘Ultra Violet’ cultivar forms smaller blossoms that are purple in coloration unlike the coral blossoms of the new cultivar of the present invention.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes. The coral blossoms contrast nicely with the bright green foliage.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings for several generations. Such asexual reproduction as performed at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmly fixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new cultivar asexually reproduces in a true-to-type manner from one generation to another.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Fire Dancer’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, a close view of a typical specimen of the new cultivar while growing outdoors. The attractive coral blossoms are illustrated as is the large bright green foliage. The plant had been reproduced by the rooting of a cutting in a greenhouse and subsequently had been grown outdoors in a container near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The photograph was obtained during July 2010 when the plant was approximately one year of age.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Color terminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to the reader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customary dictionary significance. The description is based on the observation of typical specimens of the new cultivar at an age of approximately one year during July 2010 while growing in containers outdoors near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Plant:     -   -   Form.—bushy and compact.         -   Height.—commonly up to approximately 30 cm on average.         -   Width.—commonly approximately 50 cm on average.         -   Growth habit.—perennial in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to             11.         -   Leaf arrangement.—opposite.         -   Leaf configuration.—elliptic to oblong.         -   Leaf length.—commonly approximately 2.5 to 3 cm on average.         -   Leaf width.—commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 cm on average.         -   Leaf margin.—repand.         -   Leaf texture.—commonly slightly fleshy.         -   Leaf blade color.—Green Group 137C on the upper surface, and             Green Group 138B on the under surface.         -   Leaf blade apex.—acute to obtusely rounded.         -   Leaf blade base.—mainly obtuse.         -   Scent.—leaves commonly display a tangy fruity scent when             crushed.         -   Petiole shape.—somewhat flattened.         -   Petiole length.—variable and commonly approximately 5 to 9             mm.         -   Petiole width.—commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 mm.         -   Petiole color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Time.—prolonged blooming period beginning in May and             extending into September.         -   Type.—terminal raceme.         -   Diameter.—commonly approximately 1 cm on average.         -   Length.—commonly approximately 2.5 cm on average.         -   Number.—commonly up to approximately 50 flowers per plant on             average.         -   Configuration.—tubular, and two-lipped.         -   Pedicel length.—commonly approximately 3 to 4 mm on average.         -   Pedicel width.—commonly approximately 2 mm on average.         -   Pedicel texture.—glabrous with no pubescence.         -   Pedicel color.—green, Yellow-Green Group 145B.         -   Calyx shape.—broadly campanulate, and flared towards the             apex.         -   Calyx rib number.—commonly 13, and longitudinally disposed.         -   Calyx length.—commonly approximately 10 mm on average.         -   Calyx width.—commonly up to 6 mm.         -   Calyx texture.—glandular and puberulent on the upper and             under surfaces.         -   Calyx color.—on the upper lobe Red-Purple Group 60B at the             apex and Yellow-Green Group 145A at the base, and on the             lower lobes primarily Yellow-Green Group 145B.         -   Calyx lobe number.—3.         -   Calyx upper lobe number.—1.         -   Calyx upper lobe shape.—acute.         -   Calyx upper lobe length.—commonly approximately 4 mm on             average.         -   Calyx upper lobe width.—commonly approximately 4 mm in             width.         -   Calyx lower lobe number.—2.         -   Calyx lower lobe shape.—acute.         -   Calyx lower lobe length.—commonly approximately 3 mm on             average.         -   Calyx lower lobe width.—commonly approximately 4 mm on             average.         -   Corolla shape.—tubular proximally to two-lipped distally.         -   Corolla length.—commonly approximately 2.2 to 2.5 cm on             average.         -   Corolla color.—the base commonly is near Yellow-White Group             158D, the tube is near coral or orange-red, Red Group 39A,             and the lower lip is near Red Group 41A.         -   Corolla tube length.—approximately 23 mm on average.         -   Corolla tube width.—approximately 3 mm on average.         -   Corolla tube depth.—approximately 7 mm on average.         -   Corolla tube lip number.—2.         -   Corolla upper lip number.—1.         -   Corolla upper lip shape.—hood-like.         -   Corolla upper lip length.—commonly approximately 9 mm             average.         -   Corolla lower lip length.—2, suborbicular.         -   Corolla lower lip shape.—banner-like, and extended downward.         -   Corolla lower lip outline.—obovate.         -   Corolla lower lip length.—commonly approximately 12 mm on             average.         -   Corolla lower lip diameter at tip.—approximately 12 mm on             average.         -   Style length.—approximately 2.5 cm on average.         -   Style width.—commonly approximately 1 mm on average.         -   Style attachment site.—at four-lobed ovary between lobes.         -   Stamen number.—2.         -   Stamen shape.—seesaw-like.         -   Filament length.—approximately 6 mm on average.         -   Connective length.—approximately 12 mm on average.         -   Anther length.—approximately 2 mm on average.         -   Anther width.—approximately 1 mm on average.         -   Anther color.—Yellow-Orange Group 16A.         -   Anther attachment site.—at outer end of the connective. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—vigorous and displays a tendency to quickly             regrow following pruning.         -   Blooming.—displays long blooming season.         -   Fertility.—not observed with the plants being sterile during             observations to date.         -   Winter hardiness.—the plant is a perennial that can be grown             in at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.         -   Disease resistance.—no particular sensitivity to disease has             been encountered during observations to date. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) displays a bushy and compact growth habit, (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive blossoms that are coral in coloration, (c) displays vigorous large bright green foliage, (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation; substantially as illustrated and described. 